President Obama travels to Virginia's George Mason University Friday for a final rhetorical push for the critical test of his ability to deliver on a signature promise of his presidency.

Washington (CNN) – With Sunday's House vote on healthcare reform moving closer, President Obama travels to Virginia's George Mason University Friday for a final rhetorical push for the critical test of his ability to deliver on a signature promise of his presidency.

White House officials say the speech will frame the vote as a choice between a "victory for the insurers" or "victory for the American people." They say he will take aim at Washington and its "inability to do the right thing so much of the time."

That, the president's aides say, is the same message he will give member of Congress. Mr. Obama is expected to meet with and call members after his morning speech.

The White House, aides say, feels that it had a "really good day" yesterday and has a "good sense of momentum," picking up the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and Federation of American Hospitals endorsements and convincing more members to change their votes from no to yes.

soundoff(52 Responses)

Again, the student loan bill has been slipped deep into the health care bill, and now the pork is in there, also.

Now the bill is even more of a bad deal for America.

March 19, 2010 09:21 am at 9:21 am |

Tram

Congress, pass the bill! The American people want a choice. We want a health care system that works. We want to toss out the pre-existing condition nonsense. Since the insurance companies are only interested in lining their own pockets and not doing right by the American people, then help a president whose purpose IS helping the American people get this bill passed.

We are America. We have spoken. We want the bill. Stop acting like spoiled children and do your job. Vote YES on the bill.

March 19, 2010 09:22 am at 9:22 am |

Lakisha Jackson

Mr. President I support you 100%. U will be a success. Know that we r standing with u

March 19, 2010 09:25 am at 9:25 am |

Costello Williams

Pass it already Im tired of hearing the the GOP fear train, THIS is what I elected you for, PASS THE DAM BILL!!!

March 19, 2010 09:25 am at 9:25 am |

TCM

what propaganda...this Obama's final push for Obama......he'll afford healthcare either way; this is the first time he's actually had to work in his life, and hasn't had everything handed to him....and we all see what a failure he actually is. This is an excellent example of getting hired to the level of incompetency. They aren't convincing people to change votes; they're threatening and harassing people. With a president and administration like this, we're doomed

March 19, 2010 09:28 am at 9:28 am |

nathan smith ga

great news for america!

March 19, 2010 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

DEM in HI

It is sad that people have not addressed the causes of high malpractice insurance that is driving doctors to flee their profession in record numbers. Then these deals int he bill to buy votes is disgusting and uncalled for. So much for change we can believe in! It is more of the same, just with different faces in DC. Then they wonder why Congress's approval rating is in the teens. Why vote? It does not matter what the people want, this is about protecting the status quo for the few at the expense of the many.

March 19, 2010 09:32 am at 9:32 am |

T'SAH from Virginia

People all over the land – join hands
Get us some Health Care – Health Care

The next stop – of this bill – will be on Obama's desk
So tell all the folks in the House & the Senate too
If they miss this vote – then they will pay
In 2010 and 2012 they'll be on their way

So, People all over the land – join hands
Get us some Health Care – Yes We Can!!

LOL ... written by T'SAH and I approve this song and give CNN permission to print it!!!! Yes We Can!!!

March 19, 2010 09:34 am at 9:34 am |

Kevin in Ohio

It is clear that Obama cares ONLY for his legacy and his own agenda, and NOT the American people. We have been lied to by this self-proclaimed Messiah since day one, and he has been aided by the Pelosi-Reid Congress that has been pushing the progressive agenda since Jan 1,2007. THAT is the the date things started to go downhill in this country.... and we are well on our way to disaster.

STOP THE SPENDING! STOP THE LIES!

March 19, 2010 09:34 am at 9:34 am |

Joe

When is this all going to stop. Part of the new bill is 100 million for Sen Dodd to build a hopital in Conn. The government takeover of student loans. How many people are goingto lose their jobs because of this??? Then who is gongto make those loans?? You have to creat another beauracy in Washington. Now is nt that just great. Now another ton of money for new governmetn workers. A bill that is rasining SSEC Taxes by >75 % and a 3.8% tax on people with investments. You liberals just want this passed and od not care the consequences of higher taxes. You will end up taxing the middle class to death. Lastly lets not forget all the cuts in Medicare to the faste grwoing poplulation in the country, THE ELERLY. Slashing fees to doctors by 21% and cutting 500 Billion from Medicare overthe next ten years. No Death Panel but you might as well have one since the elderly will not be ableto get care because Doctors will stop treating them. What a wonderful world you liberals are creating. Wait until you get all the taxes this is going to cost you then we will see what you what you feel about your Savior and his band of liberals....

March 19, 2010 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

WOW - CONCERNED WOMEN

If all of the so called brither's, and tea party folks would give up their social security checks, medicare, unemployment , and SSI checks, natural disasters CHECKS, and bankruptcy, I would understand you not wanting the government in your pocket.......but guess what ....YOUR HANDS ARE IN THE GOVERNMENTS POCKETS .......... lets START WITH YOU STOP COLLECTING...... if you have collected any of the above checks (BIRTHERS, AND TEA PARTY FOLKS) you are for a socialist society .................LOOK IN THE MIRROR.......

March 19, 2010 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Tom in Wheaton, Illinois

Sunday will be as great a day for America as was the day Social Security passed. We will finally join virtually every other industrialized society in providing some sort of healthcare for all its citizens. I'm sure many do not look forward to it, but I'll bet none of them will be willing to trade it away 5 years from now...

March 19, 2010 09:40 am at 9:40 am |

Mark L.

God Bless President Obama, God Bless Nancy Pelosi and God Bless Harry Reid, ALWAYS !! Once this HealthCare Reform Legislation is Passed, I believe President Obama will go down into the history books alongside other GREAT ex-Presidents to include FDR & LBJ !! Now Congress, let's get this HealthCare Reform Legislation Passed and Signed Into Law !! I still wish it would include the Public Option, but I am happy we've come this far, to say the least. GOD BLESS AMERICA !!

March 19, 2010 09:40 am at 9:40 am |

Fair is Fair

White House officials say the speech will frame the vote as a choice between a "victory for the insurers" or "victory for the American people."

I really do feel bad for the liberal sheep who fall for this tactic hook, line, and sinker. According to your own numbers, there's going to be 30+ million new customers for those "evil insurance companies". If that wasn't enough, the premiums are going to be paid for by YOUR tax dollars (that is, of course, if you actually pay any taxes).

A vote against insurance companies (who are going to get millions of new customers) and a vote for the American people (who are going to get raped in taxes)????

Only in liberal la-la-land.

March 19, 2010 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

G

The bill is corrupt with earmarks, and overall is a bad idea. It will bankrupt us. And the dirty politics that have gone behind ramming this bill through has shaken my faith in our leaders. I vote about 50% R and 50% D and an occasional "I" when I get a chance to.... but for the next couple years I need to be all R and I!!!! get these people out of office.

March 19, 2010 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

TLD

That healthcare bill is a disaster. I don't want those people coming into my doctor's office with all their fatherless children and other undesirables. Understand, I don't care if they have healthcare, I just do not want them to exercise their healthcare in my places. The quality of care will go down just like their neighborhoods. My family should not have to be exposed to them in a medical setting. Some don't even speak English and those other ones speak improper English at best. I don't want them in my doctor's office.... PERIOD!

March 19, 2010 09:51 am at 9:51 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

I was signed up to volunteer for this event BUT special project came up at work and I couldn't attend! Too bad. I would've loooved to have offered my voice and time in support of what this President is doing in rehgards to healthcare. I am so proud of my Catholic nuns for adding their support to this reform. Thank you Rachel Maddow for your voice of reason. Keith O. you're intense, but you're right.

This fight is coming to a close. Hopefully, Obama's sincere willingness to do this FOR THE PEOPLE OF THESE GREAT UNITED STATES will pay off. It is NOT a perfect bill, but it's gotto go on the books and be tweaked and brought closer to perfection later. Lest we forget, various other Presidents, both Dem and Rep, have attempted this and dropped it in return for a possible second term. I admire Pres. Obama's willingness to face possible political suicide in return for doing what in his heart and the herat of MILLIONS OF AMERICANS he knows to be the RIGHT THING.

YES INDEED, THIS IS THE CHANGE MILLIONS OF US PROUDLY AND WITH HOPE VOTED FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WE"RE LOVING IT!

March 19, 2010 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

Wake Up

Obama is everything that the far right wing accused him of being. We all dismissed them as fringe. Well, now we are the ones paying for electing this radical left wing socialist. This bill is a complete fraud with smoke, mirrors and lies. Wake up people

March 19, 2010 09:55 am at 9:55 am |

Pass the Bill

Public Option

March 19, 2010 09:56 am at 9:56 am |

Accountability In American Society

This Healthcare reform bill contains multiple elements that only the Republicans wanted and yet they refuse to vote for the bill.

I'd like to see these elements stripped out. Why should the republicans receive concessions, that help their CORPORATE BACKERS, when they don't have to STEP UP, VOTE and BE COUNTED?

I hope the President has learned a lesson in dealing with treacherous, treasonist Republicans. No more concessions first.

If the republicans want the milk, they better buy the cow.

March 19, 2010 09:57 am at 9:57 am |

Con "christians" are only pro-life so they can save a zygote, just to kill it 18 years later in an elective religious war!

Thank you, President Obama, for completing this number 1 campaign promise that 53% of Americans voted for you to do!

March 19, 2010 09:59 am at 9:59 am |

Dicky Afriardi

This is a tough thing to be done by President Obama to bring a stndar kesehetan for the people of the United States to a level better for masyarakt who have no health insurance.

March 19, 2010 09:59 am at 9:59 am |

cspurgeon

Get it done and lets get on with other stuff and my priority is jobs, banking system/wall st and some more fixes to health care.

March 19, 2010 09:59 am at 9:59 am |

Judy

Anywone else notice the correlation of his push for health care reform and approval ratings? According to Rasmussen Reports, he has hit a new low of -21. Maybe he should talk and listen to middle class Americans instead of his special interest groups!

March 19, 2010 10:01 am at 10:01 am |

Monkey wrench

This is not governance, this has now degenerated into a dictatorship. We will see how much longer the American people will allow this Administration to trample our Constitutional rights and corrupt even further our system of checks and balances.